The Texans vs. Jaguars clash on Sunday turned into a heated battle, but the spotlight shifted to a contentious moment when Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence suffered a concussion after a hit by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. The play, which left Lawrence dazed and sidelined, sparked a full-blown brawl between the teams. Al-Shaair was ejected, and emotions ran high as both teams reacted to the incident.

Stephen A. Smith didn’t hold back as he aimed Houston Texans’ coach DeMeco Ryans for defending linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after his controversial hit on Trevor Lawrence. The play, which led to Lawrence’s injury, sparked outrage, with Smith calling Ryans’ stance downright “stupid.” He slammed the coach for excusing such an egregious act, saying, “You knew how egregious it was. You know the rules and how the rules have changed. This ain’t 20 years ago!” Smith pointed out that Ryans, now in his second year as head coach, should fully understand the modern game’s strict regulations.

Adding fuel to the fire, Smith noted that Ryans defended Al-Shaair even before the suspension was announced, making his comments even more questionable. “Why would you do that? You watched the play, you played defense, you knew how egregious it was,” Smith criticized, highlighting Ryans’ responsibility to set a better example for his team.

Addressing the situation, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans stood by his linebacker, calling the hit “unfortunate” but providing context for the play. “A lot of quarterbacks in this day and age, they try to take advantage of the rule where they slide late and try to get an extra yard,” Ryans said during Monday’s press conference. While acknowledging Lawrence’s injury, Ryans pointed out the challenge defenders face in split-second decisions. “You don’t know what a guy is thinking. You get a late slide, and you hit the guy. Unfortunate that Trevor got hurt. We hope Trevor’s OK,” added the coach further.

Ryans also took issue with the Jaguars’ sideline reaction, which escalated the situation. “Their sideline overreacts, and it turns into a melee,” he said, adding that both teams need to handle such moments better.

Azeez Al-Shaair suspended after hit that concussed Trevor Lawrence

The Texans vs. Jaguars matchup on Sunday turned fiery when a controversial hit by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair sidelined Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. In the second quarter, Lawrence scrambled on a second-and-7 play, sliding to avoid contact. However, Al-Shaair led with his forearm as Lawrence’s slide began, causing the quarterback’s head to slam hard onto the turf. The play not only left Lawrence concussed but also triggered a brawl between the two teams, with players ejected from both sides.

On Tuesday, the NFL handed Al-Shaair a three-game suspension for the hit, citing it as “a serious violation of the playing rules.” NFL vice president Jon Runyan didn’t hold back, criticizing Al-Shaair’s actions for showing a “lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game.” The linebacker, who has a history of personal foul penalties, was also scolded for putting the health and safety of others at risk.

Despite the backlash, Al-Shaair publicly apologized to Lawrence on social media, expressing remorse for the injury. “I would never want to see any player hurt because of a hit I put on them,” he wrote. While the Texans are on a bye, the spotlight remains firmly on this incident as Al-Shaair appeals the suspension.